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Everyday corruption in the spotlight in Indonesia

Indonesia correspondent George Roberts looks at Indonesia's corruption problem, which is in the spotlight after a recent video of a Dutch man bribing police emerged on social media.

Transcript

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Indonesia's ruling party has been dogged by corruption allegations, and convictions, for the best part of two years.

But the country's corruption problem isn't just confined to high profile political figures.

Everyday corruption is well known and, to a certain extent, accepted as a way of doing business.

Now a video of a Dutch man bribing police is doing the rounds on social media.

Our Indonesia correspondent George Roberts reports from Jakarta.

GEORGE ROBERTS: Kickbacks and bribes are commonplace in Indonesia. Sometimes they're made out to be unofficial fees, other times it's an outright request for money.

The illegal traffic conductors, who take money to help people merge into the madness of Jakarta's gridlock, tell us the police come along and demand cash from them.

I've also been told by a local that if you really want to get through traffic, you can pay a motorbike policeman $50 and they'll act as an escort, with sirens blaring to move the traffic out of the way.

I haven't tried it, but there've been times I've been stuck in traffic for hours and the thought has crossed my mind.

Now a Dutch guy calling himself Van der Spek has posted hidden camera footage on the internet of him getting pulled over for not wearing a helmet while driving a scooter in Bali.

POLICEMAN: I give you ticket now.

VAN DER SPEK: Yes.

POLICEMAN: You will be fined in the courts of justice in Denpasar.

VAN DER SPEK: In the court?

POLICEMAN: Yeah.

VAN DER SPEK: I don't want to go to court.

GEORGE ROBERTS: One of the policemen tells him he has to go to court and pay the equivalent of $120.

POLICEMAN: If you pay in the courts of justice, 1,250,000. If you pay here, I give you 250,000 - 200 for you, this is good for you.

VAN DER SPEK: Two hundred - that's like $20?

POLICEMAN: Yes, maybe $20.

VAN DER SPEK: And I don't have to go to court?

POLICEMAN: No go to court - finish here.

VAN DER SPEK: I just give it to you?

POLICEMAN: Here.

GEORGE ROBERTS: After paying the policeman 200,000 rupiah - or just $20 - instead, he gets a verbal free day pass.

OK, for today, you don't have problem, you can go anywhere in my area, OK.

VAN DER SPEK: And you won't fine me?

POLICEMAN: Fine. No stop you again today.

GEORGE ROBERTS: Then the policeman offers to have a beer with him too.

POLICEMAN: This is your money. I pay one hundred to beer, one hundred for my government, OK?

VAN DER SPEK: Only one is enough.

POLICEMAN: You only [want] one?

VAN DER SPEK: I have to drive!

POLICEMAN: No problem!

VAN DER SPEK: You're from the police!

POLICEMAN: Have you problem, you can call me here.

VAN DER SPEK: OK, OK.

POLICEMAN: I'm sorry?

VAN DER SPEK: Watch out, eh? You do like this - I'll show you how we do in Balangan.

POLICEMAN: Yeah, in Balangan?

VAN DER SPEK: This.

(Opens beer can)

POLICEMAN: Oh, it's good! OK, thank you. Cheers.

VAN DER SPEK: Cheers.

GEORGE ROBERTS: It may be no surprise, but it is very amusing to see this footage, and as a result it's done the rounds on the social media sites Twitter and Facebook, racking up more than half a million hits so far.

Now it seems the video has been well planned, though, because there's a second camera angle from someone hiding across the road.

So apart from perhaps deliberately setting out to get caught and film it, the footage is very telling.

Everyone who lives here long enough knows that traffic police have a reputation for being easily bribed, but this is the first time I've seen it on camera.

As for the people in the film - well, the two traffic policemen have reportedly been suspended but the police also want to question the man who made the video.

He may be facing charges for bribing police - or perhaps he can just pay to get out of that one too.